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Journal of Economic Perspectives: Vol. 9 No. 2 (Spring 1995)
JEP Volume. 9, Issue 2 | 
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Assessing the Case for Social Experiments
Article Citation
Heckman, James J., and
Jeffrey A. Smith. 1995. "Assessing the Case for Social Experiments."
Journal of Economic Perspectives,
9(2): 85-110.
DOI: 10.1257/jep.9.2.85
DOI: 10.1257/jep.9.2.85
Abstract
This paper analyzes the method of social experiments. The assumptions that justify the experimental method are exposited. Parameters of interest in evaluating social programs are discussed. The authors show how experiments sometimes serve as instrumental variables to identify program impacts. The most favorable case for experiments ignores variability across persons in response to treatments received and assumes that mean impacts of a program are the main object of interest in conducting an evaluation. Experiments do not identify the distribution of program gains unless additional assumptions are maintained. Evidence on the validity of the assumptions used to justify social experiments is presented.
Article Full-Text Access
Full-text Article (Complimentary)
Authors
Heckman, James J. (Harris School of Public Policy Studies, U Chicago)
Smith, Jeffrey A. (U Western Ontario and Center for Social Program Eval, Chicago)
Smith, Jeffrey A. (U Western Ontario and Center for Social Program Eval, Chicago)
JEL Classifications
C93: Field Experiments
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